NASA has released a study claiming there is a need for continued use of plutonium-energized power systems for future space flights. It also says the use of actual nuclear reactors in space “has promise” but “currently” there is no need for them. The space plutonium systems—called radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGS)—use the heat from the decay […]

Holtec International President Kris Singh told the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel on Friday that the HI-STORM (Holtec International Storage Module) spent nuclear fuel storage casks constructed by his company can withstand cold weather and even being flooded. Singh asserted that the HI-STORM casks were the best and safest in the world and claimed […]

Tokyo Electric, the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, has released a document during a lawsuit brought by over 40 shareholders which reveals the utilities acknowledgment that tsunami defenses at the plant were not adequate. The internal document from 2008 noted that TEPCO executives had agreed that it would be “indispensable” to […]

On Wednesday, a licensed reactor operator at the McGuire nuclear power station in North Carolina was found to be in violation of the site fitness-for-duty policy. The licensee revoked the operator’s access to the facility and notified the NRC Resident Inspector.

A licensed supervisor at the Farley nuclear power plant in Alabama confirmed positive for a controlled substance during a random fitness for duty test last week. Southern Company, who operates the nuclear power plant, restricted the employee’s site access by placing them on administrative hold. Source: NRC Event Notifications

Canadian Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced that a decision on whether or not to approve the $1 billion Kincardine nuclear waste storage facility on Lake Huron will be postponed until after elections in the fall. Minister Aglukkaq was supposed to make a final decision in September, but decided ultimately to delay the decision until December […]